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| MODIFICATIONS CARLSSON C-TRONIC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CHIPSHAPE
Chiptuning can make a massive difference to the performance of a car. And it requires no mechanical modifications whatsoever. But how effective is it ? STORY SHAPUR KOTWAL PHOTOGRAPHY ASHLEY BAXTER ‘The Carlsson-equipped C200 has 143bhp instead of the stock 115 pushing it.’ Don't ya hate it? You’re top dog, the one with the
cleanest pair of heels in town. You've got performance, driveability,
refinement and low running costs all neatly rolled into one sweet little
package. The car even has a pretty little star on the bonnet. And then,
out of the blue, there's a new kid on the block, one that upstages you.
Can't say I didn't sympathise with C200 CDI owners when Mercedes-Benz
launched the C220 CDI with its 32kgm of torque. Once the toast of the
town, now they were yesterday's soggy bread. And here's the worst bit,
there isn't truly that much different under the hood. Mercedes, master
of the modular engine and the shrinking parts bin, of late has started
differentiating various models by just changing software — real
smart. So, engines like the C200 CDI and the C220 CDI are almost identical
mechanically, the difference in power down to more aggressive engine mapping.
Called C-Tronic, Carlsson's kit includes a credit card-sized control unit that is plugged into the original ECU using an adapter socket. Built on the same 36-pin platform, it reads all relevant engine values and sensor signals, which allows it to instruct the engine to deliver maximum power and torque by adjusting values like fuel quantity and injection timing etc. Unlike a number of other tuners, however, Carlsson does not believe in raising the pump pressure as this puts a great deal of additional stress on a number of key parts, which are under very high loads already. In addition, the ECU monitors boost pressure continuously and even prevents delivery of full power unless the motor is running between 65 and 105 degrees Centigrade. Installation is immediate, almost plug-and-play, and the driver can access the performance once the engine is up to normal operating temperature. Carlsson in fact is extremely careful, and has special software built in to avoid overloading the engine when it is running hot or cold. The difference between the C200 CDI and the one equipped with the CD20 Power Carlsson chip is massive. Once engine temperature climbs above 65deg, the control unit takes over. The result is 143bhp instead of 115 and a massive 32kgm of torque, very similar to the C220 CDI. You can feel the extra muscle immediately. A hint of turbo lag is followed by a surge that pushes you into your seat, the effect of all that torque being dumped onto the rear driven wheels. You feel all that torque even when the car is being driven in normal traffic. Part-throttle now suffices, there always seems to be pedal travel in reserve and overtaking and making it through gaps in traffic now is a breeze. It feels considerably quicker and more responsive than the stock C200 CDI at all engine speeds, and is more effortless to drive in the real world.  So
how close is the Carlsson CD20-chipped C200 CDI to the C220 CDI? Too close.
Our V-box timing gear strapped on, the Carlsson immediately proved what
altering a few lines of code can do. It sprints to 100kph in 10.17 seconds,
almost half a second faster than the C220 CDI, and a substantial 2.7sec
faster than the stock C200 CDI. Take a look at the table for all three cars,
and you'll get the picture. What does all this additional performance cost you? How much do you need to shell out for that little control device? At Rs 80,000 a pop, it's not cheap, but then few things on a Merc really are. That's not all. As is the case with any engine modification, you will also lose your manufacturer's warranty. The reality however is that most C200 CDIs will be well out of warranty now, and with Carlsson already having sold thousands of C-class chips internationally, it's not as risky a proposition as it sounds. Additionally, especially in this case, the electronics are merely optimising the potential of the hardware, something Mercedes-Benz does on the C220 CDI anyway. If you're the lucky owner of a C200 CDI and are excited by a fresh new set of legs, e-mail distributor Savoir Faire (sfauto@vsnl.com) or call at 09821781171
Captions: Carlsson will also do body kits, but there is really nothing like being quicker off the line than people expect you to be. The
C - Tronic can be fitted in 10 minutes flat, a sort of instant upgrade
to the performance of a C200 CDI. |
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Source
June 2005 |
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